New bases and additional numbers are also possible in a show of strength against Russia, CNN reports
The United States plans to keep 100,000 troops in Eastern Europe for the foreseeable future, possibly even increasing the number if Russia poses a threat to NATO or its two new potential members, Sweden and Finland, several officials told CNN on Friday.
If NATO conducts more military exercises in the area or “Security environment“In return, the United States could bring in more troops or build more military bases in the region,” officials said. The plans are being considered after a meeting of NATO military chiefs in Brussels on Thursday, and will be presented at a meeting of the alliance’s defense ministers next month. The leaders of the NATO countries will meet in Madrid at the end of June.
Although Sweden and Finland have applied to join NATO, the United States has not promised to send more troops to their defense, although any arms embargo by Russia – which both countries have promised to respond to joining the Transatlantic Alliance – could have further consequences. Installation However, some NATO countries have agreed to provide support outside the bloc’s official framework during the processing of their applications.
The United States raised its troop numbers in Europe to 100,000 in March, the first time since 2005 that it has deployed troops to the continent. The European Command of the United States, EUCOM, has been specifically blamed. “Russian aggressionFor extended deployments. Most troops are stationed in Poland and Germany, followed by Italy and the United Kingdom. The Baltic states have called for a larger military presence in the region as the conflict in Ukraine continues.
Prior to Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, about 60,000 U.S. troops were stationed in Europe. Although there is no official US military presence in Ukraine, Washington has sent billions of dollars in military aid to Kiev.
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Russia invaded its neighboring country in late February, following Ukraine’s failure to implement the terms of the first Minsk agreement, signed in 2014, and the final recognition of the Donetsk republics of Moscow, Donetsk and Lugansk. The German- and French-brokerage protocols were designed to give special status to isolated territories within the Ukrainian state.
The Kremlin has since demanded that Ukraine formally declare itself a neutral state that would never join the US-led NATO military bloc. Kyiv has insisted that the Russian invasion was completely unpopular and has denied claims that it is planning to forcibly retake the two republics.
